No life was found anywhere on this planet that no one should find. Nothing but crumbling rocks, blowing dust, and emptiness. No lakes or rivers, trees or forests, no plant life of any kind. Not even the past existence of any life could be found. A planet where no one could survive, not even the dead.
He walked the ground of this world searching for what cannot be seen but only felt. A power that hid the darkest secrets the Universe has ever seen. Trapped in a dimension where they suffered eternal damnation. A punishment justly given for the actions and choices they made in life. But this place also held those that were punished unjustly by him with a power that only he understood. He sent them here because they would not worship him. The judgment of a god that only desired immortality and unlimited power for himself at the cost of everyone. But now, his destiny, that Zeus had foreseen, had changed.
His creation, Olympus, had been taken from him. A curse that prevented Zeus from returning to this galaxy once called home. The origin of this curse, he did not know but Zeus knew it was because of his once trusted son. Powerful beings were now fighting for Perseus’s cause which made all who fight with him the enemy. Not only this, other changes have darkened Zeus’s once bright future. He had seen new visions that will come to pass and the judgment that will await him. A power that will snare him with unbreakable chains and drag him to a hell from where he will never escape again. But he has discovered a way to stop that future from happening. A plan that only he can accomplish with a power that only he can control. A design that will bring death and destruction to all who will not obey him and make him ruler over everything. The first step was simple. He only needed to unleash hell.
“Sire,” said the creature with the silver metal helmet and slits for eyes with a green eerie glow. His tone was beyond frighten. Zeus turned his head quickly with a scowl which made the creature lower his as if begging forgiveness. “My apologies my Lord. You looked tired and I was offering—”
“I am not needing any help from you!” shouted Zeus as electricity cascaded up and down his body. He walked towards the creature appearing as if he would strike him. A scene witnessed many times by his followers.
“My Lord!” shouted the female lifeform. Zeus turned and met her piercing blue eyes and her dark black hair caressing her face. Her black leather outfit wrapped around her hourglass figure made her difficult to see. Hence her name, Skià, was perfect for this creature. “Why punish those that only want your victory?”
The creature in the silver helmet did not move. His head stayed bowed waiting for his Lord to command him. Zeus walked slowly towards her and gently placed a warm hand upon her face. “For this reason, I have asked you to come,” he said with a warm smile. “You teach me forgiveness.” He then turned and walked towards the creature that had not moved and placed a hand upon his shoulder. He felt his body shaking. “Look upon me, Serpens,” Zeus said in a tone that was meant to be consoling but was more agitated. The creature met the blue eyes of Zeus. “Best not to speak to me until spoken to,” he continued with a warm smile that appeared more evil than friendly. The creature nodded. Zeus then looked towards Skià once again. “Is that what you desire?”
Her face did not show she was impressed. “We have been walking for hours searching this desolate place. You promised us that we would find an army powerful enough to overtake any resistance in this Universe.” She scanned the area around her. “I see nothing but death.”
His smile made her tense. “That is exactly what we are searching. Eternal death. And we are here to break open the gate and rise them from their prison.” He scanned the others in his party that stood motionless awaiting his command. They were ten in total. Almost all creatures that he had created with his power. But not her. She was born with her power. Zeus began to walk slowly forward with his eyes closed. His fists clinched. “I know we are close. The power is extraordinary.” He continued walking forward and the others followed. “I only need to discover how to open the gate. This intense power I was not expecting.”
Suddenly a voice from the shadows brought their party to a stop. “Who are you?!” They all went to a battle stance except Zeus who seemed to be half-expecting this event. A lifeform walked slowly from the shadow of a large rock. The creature wore a red robe with a black vest. His face was concealed with a red hood, but his eyes could easily be seen because they glowed with a bright yellow light. He held in his hand a scepter that appeared to move as if alive. A large symbol topped the living staff that appeared to be a moving skull that had eyes that was watching each of them. Attached to this lifeform’s back was a scythe that had the longest curve blade ever seen. The hooded creature studied the face of each in the party and then returned to that of Zeus. “Your face is not your own,” said the red hooded creature in a nonchalant tone. “Many of your party entrap those of stolen souls. Force to do the work of a master that does not care for them.” Zeus could not see his face, but knew this creature was smiling. “I perceive that you are that master.”
Zeus slowly walked towards this new hooded creature while everyone in his party waited for their master’s commands. He stopped a few feet from him and smiled. The hooded lifeform did not move and appeared not to be frightened of this great god. “Who are you?” he asked in a friendly tone.
The hooded creature lowered his hood. His face appeared to be mostly rotted away. It appeared to be once of a human face. One functioning eye was still found but both sockets glowed with the same bright yellow light. Pale dead skin was found on one cheek and upon an ear that looked to be ready to fall off. The rest of the face was that of a skull. A few tendons and muscle were still seen. Most of the party looked away, but Zeus studied his face with intensity. “I once was somebody, but now I serve all who come to this place seeking judgement.”
“Judgement for what?” inquired Zeus.
“Judgement for what they did in their life,” said the creature. “If good deeds, they are free to leave. If bad deeds, they receive their reward.” Another smile was seen on the mostly rotted skull.
“And that reward is eternal damnation,” said Zeus in a tone that showed he was stating and not asking. He turned and looked at his party. “We are seeking this judgement and wish for you to show us the gate that we may be judged of our deeds.”
The skull laughed. “Who are you?”
Zeus turned and looked upon him with a stern face. “I am the great god Zeus.”
The mostly rotted skull causally sat upon a nearby rock. He switched the scepter from one hand to the other. This hand still had skin, but bones could be seen. “And where is your kingdom, great god Zeus?”
“Soon, it will be everywhere,” he answered with a smile that would send chills up anybody’s spine. But this creature no longer felt so he was not impressed.
“So, currently you are a god without a kingdom. You must be the greatest god I have ever met,” said the skull with a smile showing that he was quite enjoying this. “If you are such a great god, why don’t you create yourself a kingdom? At least one world that you can call your own.”
“I have created many worlds,” said Zeus in an angry tone. Those in his party looked nervous knowing what usually happened next. “I have conquered numerous worlds and freed many that were living dismal lives and gave them hope! Billions have called my name, asking for my help and I have given them everything they asked for! My name is known on countless planets as a god and savior for them! They shout my name in billions of churches knowing that only I can save them from the eternal depths of hell!”
The mostly rotted skull could only smile. “You are the most unimpressive god I have ever met.” He now stood and began to walk away. “Come back when you are dead, great god Zeus.”
Electricity began to cascade up and down Zeus’s body. His eyes began to glow. His body now appeared to be engulfed in flames. “Show me the gate!”
“Anything you do to me will not bring any more pain that I already feel,” said the creature as it walked away. “My time is gone, and you cannot kill me again.”
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The light began to fade, his eyes returned to their original color, and the electricity stopped. Zeus then sighed heavily. “I will then reveal the gate myself.” He held up both hands and they began to glow with a faint light. He walked around the desolate ground with his hands feeling the empty air. He appeared to be trying to find his way in pitch darkness. Suddenly he stopped and the skull stopped as well and turned. His hands began to glow brighter. A smile was seen on Zeus’s face. “So that is where you were hiding.” His whole body appeared as if engulfed in fire. Thunder and lightening appeared above. Electricity cascaded everywhere around his body. His eyes glowed brighter than ever before. He held his hands out to his side and shouted with intense power. Light surrounded him and then shot off into the sky like thousands of fireworks. Then everything became calm again.
The world around them began to shift. Objects began to be created from the dirt. Sand began to twirl around them like a giant tornado. Walls began to form showing symbols and signs of the past. A great bench was formed showing seats where great ones would sit perched high above everyone. Thousands of seats were created with the rocks around them that encircled them for all to observe. The final piece was a great barrier that sat behind the seats of the great ones. Upon the barrier was a large circle that contained many signs and symbols that moved around the surface of the barrier. An intense blue light shined from this great gate making it the focal point of this new room where everyone now stood. Creatures could be seen behind the barrier and faint screams could be heard as they plastered their face against it.
“Impressive,” said the creature that was now hooded once again. “Maybe you are a great god.”
All that were in Zeus’s party began to search the new giant room where they now stood. There were statues of past heroes and sculptures of once great people. Thousands of different artifacts and treasures were seen in many different locations. A spot in the middle of the circle was seen where individuals would stand and face their judgement while looking up at the great bench in front of them. This giant room looked to be that of an enormous court room where thousands of spectators could view the proceedings of each lifeform being judged. Only Zeus’s party and the red hooded figure were found in this massive room.
“What is to happen next?” asked Skià to Zeus.
“We are to be judged,” answered Zeus as he turned to look at the red hooded figure.
“No one that has not been dead has stood in this great judgement hall,” said the creature as he switched the scepter from one hand to the other. “I cannot call the judges for those that still have a beating heart, blood flowing through their veins, and breath in their lungs.” He gave a small shrug not knowing what he could do. “They will send you away with one snap of their fingers.”
Zeus smiled. “Let them try.”
The hooded figure nodded. “You wished to be judged, then let your judgement day begin.” He slammed the scepter to the ground and a large bell tone radiated throughout the great hall. Another two strikes and two more bell tones began to sound. Suddenly, beings began to appear in all parts of this great court room. Almost all spectator seats were filled with different personages. Other beings appeared around the circle. The last to appear were the seven judges that sat atop the high bench above.
The judge that sat in the middle chair, who looked to be the High Judge, looked down from his high seat. “Guide, who is it that has come to be judged?”
“I present to you, Majesty, the great god Zeus.”
Many whispers were heard throughout the crowd. There were some screams and other personages vanished, afraid of what would happen next.
“How is it that he is here when he is not dead?” asked the judge sitting next to the High Judge on the left.
“And who are the others that are with him?” asked the judge sitting to the High Judge’s right.
The red hooded figure bowed to the judges and then began to explain, “I did not open the door to the great judgement hall. He opened it himself.” Many more whispers and screams. “He demands to be judged even though he is alive.”
The High Judge looked intensely at Zeus. He could feel the power that he possessed. He then spoke to Zeus in a nervous tone which shocked the other judges. “How did you find this place?”
“I am no mere mortal being,” answered Zeus in a tone knowing all were scared of his presence. “I was born to the god Cronus on the high mountain of Olympia. Using the power that our great home possessed, I created a technology that gave all who dared stepped into the light, great gifts that made them as gods. Through much pain and anguish, I have been reborn thousands of times while destroying my imperfections and now stand before you as immortal. I have created thousands of worlds and been the hope for billions of followers. I have discovered the darkest secrets of this Universe and have seen visions of my great conquest. And now I come here to begin my final kingdom by opening the first great barrier.”
Now there were many screams of thousands shocked at what they were hearing. All the judges were now nervous not knowing if they had the power to stop him. The High Judge then stood and silenced the crowds. He looked at Zeus with deep sadness in his eyes. It was as if he knew what was coming. “If you believe you can open the great barrier by yourself, then proceed. We will not try to prevent you. But beware what awaits you once you open the gate.” The High Judge gave him a stern face. “We will then see if you are as great as you think you are.”
Zeus gave him his evil smile as he placed his hands to his side and lifted himself off the ground. He levitated over the great bench and landed before the great barrier. All seven judges stood and watched as Zeus prepared himself to open the gate. He took from his pouch the device that was now glowing intensely knowing where it was at. He lifted the device towards the barrier and carefully began to turn it. He then let go and the device spun in the air on its own. Suddenly, large holograms appeared around the device that Zeus was able to move and control. Zeus then gave a heavy sigh, placed his feet firmly against the floor and began to try and open the gate.
A large mechanical sound was heard then sounds of cracking then a large boom that vibrated the great hall. Zeus looked to be trying to move his hands but could not. His face showed that he was in agony. He then shouted with intense power and began to move his hands. A glow surrounded his body as he his hands moved ever so slightly. The judges stared in disbelief. More cracking then a large explosion which sent all in the room into a large panic.
When the smoke cleared, the barrier was still intact, and Zeus was still moving the hologram symbols little by little. Dust, rock, and dirt continued to fall from the ceiling by the barrier as it continued to move as the symbols moved. Another large boom that vibrated through the large hall. Sweat was pouring down the face of Zeus. It appeared as if his face was melting as a glow was radiating from behind. Steam was pouring from every pore of Zeus’s body as the heat from his inner being was burning his outer body. Another large mechanical sound and another intense crack. Another booming sound. More screams and yells and looks of disbelief. Then he shouted with intense pain and then there was a light that shined brighter than any sun. The judges shaded their eyes as they now saw what Zeus really was. Pure, indestructible energy. Zeus continued to move the symbols which moved the barrier. Now there was electricity cascading in every direction as more explosions were seen and heard.
A bright blue light radiated through the great hall. Huge cracking sounds were heard as large stones fell from the ceiling, crashing down around all that were found in the great hall. Then a huge, massive explosion that sent stone, rock, dirt flying in every direction. Screams were heard everywhere as everyone retreated away from the barrier. Zeus’s party made their way up the large bench and stood atop the great bench and waited along with the judges as the smoke cleared. What they saw was Zeus on his knees exhausted and before him the barrier was opened. A thick smoke blocked them from seeing what was behind. His party ran to his aid and helped him to stand. The light from his energy was much dimmer and all could tell he lacked power.
“My Lord,” said Skià. “You have done it. The barrier is open.”
“That is only the first step,” said Zeus in a raspy voice. His energy form showing that he was weak. “We must battle the monster that comes out of the barrier.” He placed a hand on Skià’s shoulder. “Quickly. Hand me one my masterpieces from the bag.” She reached inside the large bag she was carrying and lifted out what looked like a suit of armor. She handed it to Zeus who began to quickly put on his creation. As he put on the suit, skin began to from around his arms, legs, chest and everywhere else. A new face then appeared around his head. Then thick armor appeared everywhere around him plus a large helmet. Zeus began to feel power surging through him.
A large echoing sound was heard from behind the thick smoke that made everyone look straight ahead. Another large sound and the judges began to vanish knowing what was coming. All ten in Zeus’s party began to prepare for the battle they knew that was coming. Weapons of all types were formed from pure energy. Blades, guns, spears, and rifles were pointed in the direction of the thick smoke. Another echoing sound and then what sounded like a rattling. Then there was silence. All ten looked straight ahead. Zeus’s eyes glowed brighter than they ever had before. Electricity surged all around his body. This would be the first of the many battles he would need to win to meet his destiny.
The thick smoke danced in the air hiding from view anything that was behind it. All ten could feel that something was watching them. They grew uneasy knowing that something was there. Hearts began to beat even faster, and breathing became more rapid. These self-made gods were about to find out what fiends were imprisoned in hell. Another rattle and then a large echoing sound. Then silence. A few moments later, which felt like eternity, a monster’s face came pushing through the smoke with immense speed with a shriek that pierced the ears of every living soul within a million miles of this hidden world.